Bag-closing device.



F. W. MINOR.

BAG CLOSING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.26. 1915- 1 1 90,935. Patented J ulj 11, 1916 V INVENTOR W M w BY VWAQQ ku A TTOR/VEYS ,FRANK W. MINOR, 0F RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

BAGGGLOSING DEVICE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK W. MINOR, of Richmond, in the county of Henrico, and in the State of Virginia, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bag-Closing Devices, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

While my invention is adapted for use inconnection with the closing of bags of all descriptions, it is especially applicable for use in connection with tobacco bags or pouches.

In using a repeatedly open and close the same and it is often found that when it is desired to close the bag only one hand is available for this purpose, as for example, when a cigarette is being made which necessitates "the holding of the cigarette paper in one hand and the manipulation of the bag with the other hand. The difliculty of closing a bag under these circumstances will be readily realized. When a bag was tobe closed in this manner, it has frequently been the habit of tobacco users to hold the bag in one hand and pull the string at the mouth of the bag with the teeth. This is obviously a most unsatisfactory mode of procedure as there is much difliculty in closing the bag in this manner, and as furthermore, owing to the fact that the bag and the strings on the bag come into contact with many unsanitary objects, the closing of the bag in this manner is even a source of danger; particularly if two or more persons use from the same bag.

The object of my invention is to provide a device which will automatically close the bag once it has been opened to remove the desired amount of tobacco, and which is operated in such a manner that the bag may be readily opened with one handand closed automatically and without assistance while retained in the same hand.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of this character which is most simple in construction, and which may be made at a minimum cost, and which, furthermore, is of such small size that it may be readily packed in the interior of the bag with the tobacco when placed on the market without appreciable loss of space.

While my invention is capable of embodiment in many different forms, for the purpose of illustration I have shown only cer- Specification of Letters Patent.

tobacco bag it is necessary to portion l,

of the closing device.

Patented July 11, 1916.

Application filed August 26, 1915. Serial No. 47,425.

tain forms thereof in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bag of tobacco showing one form of my invention therein, the bag being shown in closed position; Fig. 2 is asimilar view showing the bag in open position; Fig. 3 is an elevationpartly-in section'showing the same closing device appearing in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig.3 showing a modified form of my invention; and Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. 3 and 4, but showing another modified form of my invention.

In Figs. 1, 2and 8 of the drawings I have shown a bag 1, adapted to contain tobacco 'or any other desired commodity to be dispensed, having an open mouth 2, in which there is arranged to be inserted a closing device 3, which is preferably made of wire, and which has a central circular spring and downwardly and laterally directed Jwhaped ears 5 at the ends of the same. In Fig. 4 I have shown a 'modified form of the closing device, which in this instance, comprises a central V-shaped downwardly directed spring 6, and downwardly directed S-shaped ears 7 at the ends In Fig.v 5 I have shown a still further modification of my invention which is constructed the same as the forms of my invention described above, except that there is a central downwardly directed oval spring 8, and that the ends of the closing device have downwardly directed U-shaped ears 9.

In .the operation of the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the closing device3 is packed loosely in the interior of the bag of tobacco when the same is placed upon the market, preferably when the bag of tobacco is packed ready to be placed upon the market. The mouth of thebag is folded flat and retained in place by the revenue stamp so that the presence of strings is not necessary. The purchaser of the bag, desiring to use the same, opens the bag by pulling the mouth of the bag open, then extracting the closing device 3,

which may be any one of the three modified the bag in one hand as shown in Fig. 1,

and then to press the two ends'ofothe closing device together as shown in Fig. 2, which results in opening the bag and permits the tobacco to be discharged therefrom in the usual manner. As soon as the pressure against the ends of the closing device is released the spring, which may be any one of the three forms in the drawings, immediately presses the ends of the closing device outwardly, thus closing the bag automatically. In this way it will be seen, that the bag may be opened and, closed very readily merely by the manipulation of one hand. At the same time, the device is simple, inexpensive, and of such a nature that it will occupy negligible amount of space in the interior of the bag. The devices are in fact of such low cost that they may be readily provided for each bagplaced upon the market and thrown away with the bag when the tobacco becomes exhausted therefrom.

While I have described my invention above in detail, I wish it to be understood that many changes may be made therein without, departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bag closing device, comprising a body of springy material having at each of its ends an inwardly directed bag engaging member and connecting the same a single intermediate member having a portion extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag.

2. A bag closing device, comprising a body of springy material having at each of its ends an inwardly directedbag'engaging member and connecting the same a single intermediate substantially straight member having a portion extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of'the bag.

3. A bag closing device, comprising a body of springy material having at each of its ends an inwardly directed bag engaging member and connecting the same a single intermediate member having a portion extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the substantially straight mouth of the bag.

4. A bag closing device, comprising a body of springy material having at each of its ends an inwardly directed bag engaging member and connecting the same a single intermediate substantially straight member having a portion extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the sub stantially straight mouth of the bag.

5. A bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging portions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central compressible spring.

6. A bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging portions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central downwardly directed compressible spring.

7. In combination, a bag, a bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging portions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central compressible spring.

8. In combination, a bag, a bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging portions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central downwardly directed compressible spring.

9. In combination, a bag, a bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging portions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central compressible spring, the bag closing device being located wholly within the bag.

10. In combination, a bag, a bag closing device, comprising end bag engaging por tions, intermediate portions extending substantially straight across at least a portion of the mouth of the bag, and a central downwardly directed compressible spring, the bag closing device being located wholly within the bag.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANK W. MINOR.

Witnesses:

BESSIE LAMKIN, NORMAN L. FLIPPEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

